There is only five days remaining until the final rosters are due around the NFL. With a heavy focus placed on retooling the defensive line, some suspect that the Buffalo Bills may have phased out last year’s third round pick, DeWayne Carter.
The team used three straight high round draft picks on the unit, and traded for a multi-time All Pro in Joey Bosa. As such, NFL.com’s lead writer Eric Edholm has labeled Carter as a “trade candidate” two weeks out from regular season action.
“A 2024 third-round pick, Carter found himself playing far deeper into the last preseason game against the Bears than either of the Bills’ two rookie defensive tackles, T.J. Sanders or Deone Walker,” Edholm writes. “That might be an indication of a lower spot on Buffalo’s depth chart for Carter, even with Larry Ogunjobi (who doesn’t appear guaranteed to make this team, for what it’s worth) set to miss the first six weeks of the season with a suspension. If the Bills could get something in return for Carter, perhaps from a DL-needy team such as the 49ers, they might be willing to loosen up the logjam at the position a bit.”
It would be uncommon to throw in the towel on a third round pick so early in his career. But every team has a price, especially if they see something they like in the three incoming rookies.
DeWayne Carter Place Holder For Six Weeks?
One theory that Bills fans could run with is a six week trial period for Carter. His rookie season was disappointing. No arguing that. And with two defensive lineman expected to miss the first six weeks with a suspension. It seems like the perfect formula to give Carter a chance to prove his ability, while having a viable back-up plan in place.
“The suspensions of Hoecht and Ogunjobi made this list much easier to make,” writes reporter Ryan Talbot in his 53-man roster projection. “Hoecht is set to have a big role at defensive end upon his return from suspension, while Ogunjobi should rotate in nicely along the defensive tackles. Solomon and Carter will have to make the most of their reps in the first six weeks of the season, or else they could be the odd men out on the roster when Hoecht and Ogunjobi are activated.”
Carter Frustrated After Injuries Rookie Year
Carter played a significant amount of snaps his rookie season, when he was healthy that is. He was placed on injured reserve last season after tearing ligaments in his wrist in Week 7.
After battling back from that injury, the then rookie found himself on the field again just seven weeks later playing in four out of five of the remaining regular season games.
Carter himself is confident that his best is yet to come, siting the injury as a reason why his late season production wasn’t where he wanted it to be.
“It’s one thing knowing that I’m healthy, knowing I’m healed, knowing I’m strong enough to do it,” Carter told the Niagara Gazzette before the season. “It’s another thing to go out there and do it and trust it. Like knowing that I could fall and that I wouldn’t break my wrist. A lot of it was mental and once I got over that mental block, I think I was ready to go again.”
Now, fully healthy, there’s no excuse for Carter not to produce in a do-or-die season for the second year tackle.
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